France Orders Pair of Recon Satellites to Succeed Helios 2

摘要

The French Defense Ministry on Dec. 2 announced it has ordered two high-resolution optical and infrared reconnaissance spacecraft from Astrium Satellites and Thales Alenia Space in a $1.1 billion contract that calls for the first satellite to be launched in December 2016.rnThe spacecraft will succeed France's current Helios 2 reconnaissance satellites, both of which are healthy in orbit and expected to well exceed their nominal five-year service life. Helios 2A was launched in December 2004, with Helios 2B launched in December 2009.rnFrench defense officials had wanted the Helios 2 successors to be ready in 2014 or 2015 to assure that there is no gap in coverage.